Page 75 - All About History - Issue 54-17

Time Traveller’s Handbook
PORTUGUESE MALACCA

WHO TO BEFRIEND WHO TO AVOID
Afonso de Albuquerque Sultan Mahmud Shah
A legendary empire builder, it was Afonso who Inheriting the throne at a very
G.03
g ha ala a
sailed brazenly into the port decla aring that Malaccaacc FIG young age, this ruthless monarch FIG.04
4
FIG.04
h
i h his o
belonged to the Portuguese, and it t was due to was out of touch with his own
his military genius that the city fe ell against the people. Althoughh Malacca, as a
odds. Afonso quickly realised the unpopularity bustling port city y, is a diverse
p
of the sultan and ensured that the i izens s area of different p people, his
e citi
.
i
would support the Portuguese set l tlers. Once in government’s ten ndency to
y f
power, he put in place representati ives of all the favour Muslims l left many of
f
l
city’s multicultural communities, i including Hindu, his merchants w with a feeling
g
Javanese and Malay, and also set a about organising of dissatisfaction. n. He also
f
diplomacy missions to obtain allie es. With powerful destroyed any ch hance of a
ki
figures flocking to his support, suc ch as the king Portuguese allian nce when
sinate
of Siam, befriending this popular a and canny he tried to assass a
man would be a wise choice. the Portuguese a admiral
visiting the city. Since
Extra tip: One event you don’t escaping Malacca, the
dy
want to miss is the parade sultan has already
celebrating the new currency of f made several
the city. Bowls filled with the n new unsuccessful
silver coins will be thrown dow wn to the attempts to retak ke the
h
population from atop 11 elephan nts, while city. Hated by hi people,
s p
p
e a
A
heralds will proclaim the new l laws. Along defeated in battle and forced
o
g
,
and d
with troops playing trumpets a d drums, it to flee his own la and, the
ss a
will be a scene that Malacca ha as never seen sultan would be a a reckless and
the like of before. burdensome ally y.
The Portuguese have grand plans for Malacca,
fh
and with these skills you can be part of them
Com
Combat
G 5
FI G . 05 The Po ortuguese will fa
a
ce
co s ant threats to the F FIG.06
s
n
t
co
ir
e
a
h hold on y
n Malacca from M Malay
s ltans s and the Dutch, and so
sul
will need skilled s lors
th they w sail
and so oldiers to defend the city.
FIG. .
G.07
g
Civil e nngineering
n
bu
Th
Th e e bu i i l l d d i i n g a nd e xp an si on o fAF a mo sa
The building and expansion of A Famosa
n
n
is a huge un
ndertaking for the Portuguese
hing to
wish protect the city. Having the
k know-how to build it stronger and better
h
will ll make y
k you very valuable.
Diplomacy
y
d on a city so far from
f Afonso immediately realised that keeping a hold
g
Portugal would greatly depend on the support of f locals and building
lliances with neighbouring nations, so natural t
all h h l tact is a must.
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